Group of University of Regina Faculty Questions Confidence of Administration

Article excerpt

REGINA - Some faculty members at the University of Regina have started a petition that questions the ability of the school's president and academic vice-president.

The petition requests a special meeting of University Council to discuss whether faculty still has confidence in the senior administration.

The faculty claim non-academic positions have increased while teaching jobs have been cut, that education is being hurt and that donor funds are being mismanaged.

A special meeting requires a petition signed by at least 50 members of the council and there are 38 signatures so far.

The faculty says in a letter to media that it would be inappropriate to talk about the petition at such an early stage.

Lee Elliot, chairman of the university's board of governors, declined to be interviewed, but said in a written statement that the board has confidence in the school's administration.

"The board of governors appreciates council members' continuing interest in the well-being of the University of Regina. At the same time, we would like to express our confidence in the way the president and members of the executive team are managing our university and helping fulfil our collective academic mission," read the statement from Elliot.

A document accompanying the petition outlines the concerns of the faculty members.

It says: "Reduced academic resources in core faculties of the university have diminished the research profile of the university, reduced the number and range of courses we offer, reduced the quality of our programs, and thereby reduced the quality of the education we provide."

It claims the president and academic vice-president "are responsible for a significant portion of these damages."

The faculty members also say there are questions of transparency over how money is spent. They allege $1 million for the creation of a trust fund to support a research chair with a focus on heavy oil recovery processes was instead used to cover overspending in the faculty of engineering. …